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The First Effort

By
Home Stager

Well, Everyone this is my first swing at writing a blog.  It may hit or miss, but I'd thought I'd start out with a list of firsts - a reflection on 2006.  This is a list of things I experienced for the first time this year as a Stager in Porter County, Indiana.

1. A realtor that didn't hesitate to get on board with Staging (Thanks, Debbie)

2. A realtor to proclaim me "Her" Stager (Thanks, Linda)

3. A house that didn't really need to be staged (It's true)

4. My first feature article in the newspaper (it didn't bring any leads, but I did get a lot of calls from people seeking employment)

5. A potential client asking me to act as her "assistant" while SHE staged the house (she wasn't kidding and - to her amazement - neither was I when I declined)

5. My first relocation property (Thanks again, Linda)

6. A homeowner that would only list with a Realtor that offered my staging services(Gotta love the Cramers)

7. A staging job that didn't make me say "EWWWW!", even once ( can you believe that?)

8. Building my own website (a big deal, since my 11 year old can totally whip me when it comes to Microsoft Word)

9.  And a real estate networking site that invites stagers in as if they are real, bonafide professionals (Thanks, Activerain!) and they said it would never happen...

Well, there it is, my meager list of firsts.  Got any you'd like to share?

Oh, yeah, did I mention this is my first blog?

 

 

Comments(12)

Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time
Hi Kimberly, welcome to ActiveRain. Very good first post. Just keep writing and throwing it at us. Before you know it you will be an old pro.
Dec 08, 2006 09:12 AM
marti garaughty
garaughty.com - Montreal, QC
a highly caffeinated creative type...
Welcome Kimberly, excellent first post. AR is a great place to learn, share and network so I'm sure you be a pro at the blogging thing in no time.
Dec 08, 2006 09:29 AM
Judy Kincaid
Tampa, FL

Welcome to Active Rain, Kimberly.  Wow, what an impressive year of firsts for you....and your first blog was terrific. 

I experienced some of the same firsts you did this year; namely, the featured newspaper article.  Like you said, it didn't produce as many leads as I had hoped, but I did get quite a few people inspired to jump on the staging bandwagon....oh, and someone who wanted to sell me a stainless steel refrigerator to use in staging vacant homes! 

I just remembered another first (via the featured article)...I staged my first home with its own airplane hangar.  

 

Dec 08, 2006 10:39 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Bryant, Marty, and Judy-

Thanks for your encouragement and kind reviews.  I'm glad to have taken the plunge to join AR and love what I have seen so far.  I've got some excellent examples to learn from here. Your warm welcomes are most appreciated.

Judy-

You got jobseekers too, eh?  Isn't that funny?  I was rolling on the floor laughing the first time, but by number 6 I thought "you have got to be kidding!"  I bet you every single one of them said "I just love to decorate.  If you saw my house, you would just love it!"  When I explained to them what staging truly is, only 2 were still interested.  A stainless steel refrigerator! Hilarious!

An Airplane hanger?!?  That is awesome!  I can't say too many of us will have that opportunity!

Here's to a lot more firsts in 2007!

Dec 08, 2006 11:25 AM
Laura Monroe
Inman News - San Francisco, CA
Dir. of Industry Engagement & Social Media
Hi Kimberly! I'm a Virtual Assistant, and although I've been doing it for a while this is the first year in "Business" for me as well! Great reflection, and great first blog! Welcome!
Dec 08, 2006 12:47 PM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

HEY KIMBERLY! You might skin your knees a bit ... but you will find your voice. (WOW what a TOTALLY crappy mixed metphor that was.)

WELCOME

Me

PS: When I entered 2006 I didn't even know a blogger... now I is one.

Dec 08, 2006 11:37 PM
Steve Dalton
219-465-8352 - Valparaiso, IN
Northwest Indiana Home Builder
Chris said you called yesterday, thanks for following up so quickly.  We should get together and talk about the Parade House, I know it's not staging ... I think it would be considered merchandising ... but worth a chat
Dec 09, 2006 01:01 PM
Judy Kincaid
Tampa, FL

Kimberly, all the jobseekers that contacted me did so because they thought it would be a fun way to make lots of money...fast!!!  That had me rolling on the floor.  And, as you predicted, every single one of them said something along the lines of:  My friends and family say I am such a great decorator.  One even went so far as to say...I am a really, really, really good decorator! 

Once I explained to them that it was not the glamorous job portrayed in the article and the amount of money they made was solely dependent upon how hard they were willing to work promoting and marketing their businesses....I lost them all! 

Looking forward to 2007 and making new firsts and blazing new trails in the staging industry.  Also looking forward to reading more blogs from you. 

Dec 09, 2006 02:28 PM
Gina Dougherty
Fusion Design Consulting - Redondo Beach, CA
Home Staging Redondo Beach, CA- FusionDesignConsulting.com

Kimberly, so nice to meet you here on AR-Welcome!  Your list really made me think.  There have been so many firsts since I started my own staging company but the most important one is that I now TRULY LOVE my job.  I work longer and harder than I did in an office setting but it is worth it.  I even look forward to Mondays-that's a first!

Dec 09, 2006 05:57 PM
Jessica Hughes
Ambiance Staging - Boulder, CO

Kimberly, welcome to Active Rain!  Great first post.

I look forward to splashing in rain puddles with you!  Check out the newbies group for more info on blogging etiquette and activerain information!

Dec 09, 2006 09:38 PM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Hey, Craig - that was a really crappy mixed metaphor, but that's okay.  I don't think you do that very often.  Maybe I'll be as good a blogger as you someday.

Laura, Gina and Jessica - thanks for the warm welcome and the input.  I look forward to "splashing around" with all of you on as well.

Judy- It was exactly the same with me.  It doesn't sound so great when they learn it is actually hard work. Well, that weeds out the slacker wannabe's at least.  Funny thing is, I never discouraged them from doing it, I just made it clear that it is a new field here in NWI and that not everyone uses the service.  I seemed to lose them right there.  Funny, huh?

Thanks again, everyone!

 

Dec 10, 2006 05:34 AM
Phyllis Pafumi
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ
ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

Hi Kimberly

Welcome and my first is everything to do with AR...never blogged before can you believe it??

Phyllis Pafumi

Dec 15, 2006 07:53 AM